Exploring the opportunities and challenges to implementing interprofessional education in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study among faculty

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE) has potential benefits for improving the quality of patient care, but its implementation is challenged with multiple barriers. The primary objectives of this study were to explore the challenges, benefits, and incentives to establishing IPE from the perspective of healthcare faculty at King Saud University. Forty-five faculty members attended six focus groups, each consisting of 6–8 faculty members representing the five colleges. The focus group interview guide included the benefits of and barriers to establishing IPE in this academic institution, curricular design, and the feasibility of support from the colleges and University administration. A SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Challenges) frame work was utilized to guide the focus group discussions, and the data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged and were related to (i) barriers, (ii) benefits, (iii) opportunities to facilitate the introduction of IPE, and (iv) suggestions on how to implement IPE and overcome challenges to establish an IPE curriculum. Participants were generally supportive of IPE and aware of the constraints that might impede its implementation. Moreover, they identified potential barriers and incentives to promote IPE. Although participants appreciated the long-term benefits of IPE, creating a supportive environment will require the involvement of the academic community, including students, faculty members, and the University’s top management.

KEYWORDS:

• Qualitative study
• interprofessional education
• collaboration
• saudi arabia

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Ahmad Raed Tarakji from the college of medicine, Dr.Hana Alsobayel from the college of applied medical sciences, Dr.Dalal Alqahtani from the college of dentistry, and Dr.Raha Orfali from the college of pharmacy at King Saud University to the conceptual development of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research project was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project (No. RSP-2020/16), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Notes on contributors

Yazed AlRuthia

Yazed AlRuthia is an associate professor of Health Policy and Economics at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include health outcomes and economics, health policy, educational strategies, curriculum evaluation, and interprofessional education.

Adel Bashatah

Adel Bashatah is an associate professor of nursing at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include educational strategies, curriculum evaluation, and interprofessional education.

Afaf A. Batis

Afaf A. Batis is a researcher at the Saudi Health Council, Saudi Arabia. Her research interests include health informatics, public health, and health policy.

Sarah A. Alradhi

Sarah A. Alradhi is a researcher at the Saudi Health Council, Saudi Arabia. Her research interests include health informatics, public health, and health policy.

Omar Almohammed

Omar Almohammed is an assistant professor of health outcomes at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include health outcomes, patient reported outcomes, medication therapy management, and educational strategies.

Ibrahim Sales

Ibrahim Sales is an associate professor of clinical pharmacy at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include medication therapy management, medication adherence, drug safety, and educational strategies. 

Nora Kalagi

Nora Kalagi is a lecturer of clinical pharmacy at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Her research interests include drug evaluations, drug safety, drug-food interactions, and educational strategies. 

Mohammad K. Alharbi

Mohammad K. Alharbi is an assistant professor of nursing at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include educational strategies, curriculum evaluation, and interprofessional education.

Sultan Alghadeer

Sultan Alghadeer is an associate professor of clinical pharmacy at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include medication therapy management, medication adherence, emergency medical services, drug safety, and educational strategies. 

Abdulmajeed Bin Mobrad

Abdulmajeed Bin Mobrad is an associate professor of emergency medicine at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include emergency medical services, drug safety, curriculum evaluation, and educational strategies. 

Abdulaziz M. Albaker

Abdulaziz M. Albaker is a professor and and Consultant Prosthodontist at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. His research interest include dental services, dental biomaterials, healthcare workforce planning, health policy, and curriculum development.

Yousif Asiri

Yousif Asiri is a professor of clinical pharmacy at King Saud University. His research interests include health outcomes, patient reported outcomes, medication therapy management, pharmacy administration, and educational strategies.